Earl and Bess Douglas Family Scholarship

The Douglas family has many ties to Tech and Socorro, and this scholarship was established by several Douglas children in memory of their parents/grandparents.

2006-07 Recipients

Michael Lam Linda Muniz Melinda Moore

2005-06 Recipients

Brittany Carrejo Melinda Moore

news story by George Zamora, 1995

The Earl and Bess Douglas Family Scholarship Fund was established in 1995 at New Mexico Tech in honor of a Socorro family whose members include educators, a local attorney, and a former Tech registrar.

Earl and Bess Douglas and their growing family first moved to Socorro from the Four Corners area in 1935 when Douglas was offered, and accepted, the position of superintendent of the Socorro school system, a post he held until he retired from his career in education. Douglas later became a businessman in Socorro, having established an insurance company, and also represented the area for several terms in the New Mexico State Legislature. After he died, Mrs. Douglas continued to manage the family's insurance business for several more years.

The Douglas family's contributions to Socorro and New Mexico were further augmented by Earl and Bess's children:

David Eldon Douglas, lawyer and former District Attorney in Socorro, attended the New Mexico School of Mines and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in basic sciences in 1937. His late wife, Mary (nee Williams) provided years of service to the Socorro Consolidated School system as a teacher and counselor.

Earl McGrath "Mac" Douglas continued in the educator's path established by his father. He taught in several locations throughout central and western New Mexico and eventually retired as teacher from the Socorro school system. His wife, Margaret Jane (nee Weir), also taught in various schools throughout the state and in Socorro. New Mexico Tech's Weir Hall is named in honor of her father, John Weir, a longtime professor of mining at the college.

Donald V. Douglas pursued a career in the aeronautics and aerospace fields, having retired from the Martin Marrietta Company in Denver, Colo. Don moved back to his hometown with his wife Patsy, who became manager of the gift shop at Socorro General Hospital.

Upon her graduation from the University of New Mexico, another of the Douglas children, Enid (nee Douglas) Westbrook returned to Socorro and taught for several years in local schools. After her marriage to George H. "Harvey" Westborrk, a 1960 petroleum engineering graduate of Tech, she moved on to teach in Wyoming and Colorado.

Virginia (nee Douglas) Marquez, is probably the child of Earl and Bess who is best-known to Tech alumni. She served as Tech's Registrar for many years. Her husband Manuel, "Manny," held managerial positions at First State Bank of Socorro and Socorro Electric Coop and is an active volunteer in civic and parochial activities.

In addition, several grandchildren of Earl and Bess Douglas have attended New Mexico Tech.

The scholarship benefits students who are full-time undergraduates making satisfactory progress toward a degree. No specific major is required.